Marvin Williams

Marvin Williams

Republican

BACKGROUND:

• Williams, 64, of Garden City, is a retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel and ordained Presbyterian minister; he describes himself as an independent conservative voice.
• He has served in senior federal management roles across several administrations, including in areas of civil rights enforcement and economic opportunity. 
• He received a bachelor’s degree in secondary education and business administration from Old Dominion University in Virginia, and a master’s degree and doctorate in Biblical studies and corporate ethics from Vanderbilt University in Tennessee. Also, he earned degrees on military strategy and command while in the Air Force.

ISSUES:

• He said affordability/the cost of living and congressional term limits, along with security and safety, are leading issues in the campaign. He describes Driscoll, his opponent, as a "tax collector," while he says his aim is to "abate taxes."
• He acknowledged he is running against the local GOP establishment, but said his campaign is not shaped by political party talking points, but by "decades of pastoral service, military sacrifice and community accountability."
• While saying race is not an issue, he said being a Black conservative would enable him to peel away voters Rep. Laura Gillen needs to keep her House seat — including from within communities of color.